Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/456

his feelings would revolt, as well at the absurdity, as at the apparent impiety of the allusion.

Note 3.Page 19.

The deliverance of the youth by the lady, resembles the 236th Night of the Arabian tales.—The Gest is mentioned by Warton as the second tale in his analysis; and two or three other variations occur. What edition he followed I know not. I have examined five^[1].—The sentiment conveyed by this tale, (p. 18), that she who has deceived her father will deceive her husband, is thus expressed by Shakspeare—

"Look to her, Moor; have a quick eye to see;

She has deceived her father, and may thee."

Othello, Act I. Sc. 3.

1. In an 18mo. edition of the Gesta Romanorum, published at Leyden, 1555, there is prefixed to the fourth tale, by way of argument, the following remarkable passage. "Justitia nempe et misericordia Deorum maximè est: ad quos non possumus expeditius et proprius accedere, quàm his ducibus." This is literally what Shakspeare makes Portia observe in the "Merchant of Venice."

   "But Mercy is above this sceptered sway,
   ********
   It is an attribute of God himself;
   An earthly power doth then show likest God's,
   When mercy seasons justice."—Act. IV. Sc. 1.